While masterful, gigantic Germanic works resounded throughout Europe, French composers like Erik Satie, Claude Debussy, and Maurice Ravel were creating uniquely French music. The younger generation of French composers who came of age in the first quarter of the 20th century followed suit, and became known as Les six.

Queen of Spades (1949), Georges Auric

First Symphony (1930), Arthur Honegger

Deux Pièces pour piano à 4 mains (1918), Louis Durey

Nocturne (1977), Germaine Tailleferre

Sonata for two clarinets (1918/45), Francis Poulenc

String quartet 1 (1912), Darius Milhaud